802 episodes
- What if your first (or next) rental didn’t depend on your W-2, your free time, or cash sitting in the bank? Today we’re covering how to qualify for more deals, fit investing around a busy schedule, and fund your repairs without putting your next deal at risk!
Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! First up, we’re breaking down DSCR loans, which let the property’s rent do the qualifying, plus the fine print to check before you sign. Next, a rookie wants to know how to get started with real estate while working 45 to 65 hours a week! We’ll show you how to take those first steps, with help from automation tools and turnkey rentals. Finally, we’re exploring six smart ways to fund repairs after closing!
Not enough income, time, or cash: these are the reasons most rookies never get started. The truth is, there’s a solution for each one, and today’s episode will help you tackle all three!
Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!
In This Episode We Cover
How to buy rentals with a DSCR loan (even without W-2 income)
How to spot hidden lender fees before you sign
The best real estate strategies for investors with full-time jobs and very busy schedules
How AI and automation can handle guest messages for you
Six ways to fund repairs after you’ve already closed
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-793.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Is flipping houses still worth it when the market slows down? The easy appreciation days may be over, but investors who underwrite their deals with discipline are still finding ways to win. And today, we’ll explore how you can too!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! We’re coming to you live from BPCon in Orlando with James Dainard, who has spent 20 years flipping houses and renovating properties in Seattle. James shares how today’s flat market compares to flipping in the years after 2008’s financial crisis, plus the simple shifts that help him protect his profits. By the end, you’ll know how to spot safer deals and plan for surprises so one tough project doesn’t set you back.
James explains why he’s asking for more margin, not less, and the underwriting rules that cushion against longer hold times and price cuts. You’ll learn why homes with multiple exits are the smartest buys for rookie investors right now, and what to look for in a property before adding a detached ADU. Tony also puts his two-year flip on the table, and James walks through whether to sell it, keep it as a rental, or rework the deal with his private money lenders.
Every market shift creates new opportunities for investors who stay disciplined. Tune in, take notes, and get ready to tackle your next flip with confidence!
In This Episode We Cover
Why today’s flipping market feels like the years after 2008
The underwriting rules that protect your profit when prices dip
How to find homes with multiple exits for a safer flip
Using absorption rates to find where buyers are actually buying
Why some flips are worth keeping as rentals (with a future DADU)
What to do when a flip won’t sell, and how to rework a deal with your lenders
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-792.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Two duplexes, four rental units—that’s all Erik Caci needs to retire comfortably. Most real estate rookies aim to buy 10, maybe even 20, rentals. But for Erik, just two in the right market might be enough to guarantee a financially free future. And the best part? He bought two duplexes with under 20% down (and you can, too)!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After Erik changed careers, he was forced to move to everyone’s favorite city to invest in (heavy sarcasm): Los Angeles, California. But with rent and home prices among the highest in the country, Erik had few options until a 100-year-old home that had been on the market for three months popped up on his feed.
It had all the best parts of an old home—charm, historic architecture, mold, termites, and a bad roof! So instead of putting 20%, or even 10%, down, he put down just 3.5% and saved the rest for renovations. Plus, he needed to move out a tenant before he could house hack. We won’t spoil how the renovation went, but in today’s show, Erik shares how this duplex unfolded, why he bought another similar property afterward, and why renovations aren't so scary when you have your reserves ready.
In This Episode We Cover
Why just two rentals in the right real estate market could be enough to retire you
Putting just 3.5% down on your first (or next) rental property with the house hacking strategy
Buying “historic” houses and the renovation approval process to be prepared for
Why your rentals don’t need to cash flow to be worth the investment
Stay in LA? Why Erik may switch up his strategy and invest in these two overlooked markets
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-791.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Ready to rent out your property? Set up the right systems from day one, and you’ll attract better tenants, avoid costly rookie mistakes, and keep more cash flow in your pocket!
Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! We’re starting today’s episode with a first-time landlord who is renting out his home near a military base and wants to get it right from day one. We’ll share the resources for every step of the leasing process, plus what to know before renting to service members. Then, a new house hacker wants property management software that will grow with his portfolio. Ashley explains what to compare before you commit, including payout times, hidden fees, and the tenant experience. Plus, the property management perks that come with BiggerPockets Pro.
Finally, another first-time landlord gets ready to place his next tenant without an agent. We map out the DIY turnover, from move-out inspection to listing, screening tenants, and setting the right rent! We also cover the one mistake to be cautious of, and when hiring a property manager is actually the better deal.
Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!
In This Episode We Cover
How to rent out your property the right way, from day one
What landlords should know about renting to military families
The DIY leasing process for placing tenants without an agent
Where to list your rental and how to pre-screen before anyone pays
How to price your rental (and signs you’re charging too little)
Choosing property management software that scales with your portfolio
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-790.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Saving for a down payment can take years for some, but if your home is worth more than you owe on it, you might already have the money to buy your first or next rental property. Today, we’re going to show you exactly how to use it!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Join us as we walk through eight ways to turn your home equity into your next deal without putting the roof over your head at risk! You’ll learn how to choose the right option for your situation, whether you want to protect a low mortgage rate, keep your payments flexible, or get cash fast enough to beat other buyers to a deal.
Ashley explains how she uses a HELOC to make winning cash offers, and Tony shares why he treats that debt as short-term money. You’ll find out when a home equity loan makes more sense than a line of credit, and we’ll also help you determine when a cash-out refinance is worth giving up a low interest rate.
If you’ve built up equity and aren’t sure what to do with it, or you have a primary residence and want to start building your portfolio sooner, this episode will show you how to put that equity to work, safely!
In This Episode We Cover
How to use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to make cash offers on rentals
The real difference between a home equity loan and a line of credit
Why a higher interest rate doesn’t automatically make a deal “bad”
Where to find lenders who offer lines of credit on rental properties
How Tony did his first two BRRRR deals with $0 of his own money
The equity option Ashley and Tony say to use only as a last resort
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-789.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About Real Estate Rookie
New to real estate investing and not sure where to start? Ashley Kehr and Tony J. Robinson break down the basics with real-world deal analysis, investor interviews and listener Q&A.
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